Fifth-wheel.



No. 63|,I89. Patented Aug. I5, |899. J. K. THOMA. FII-' TH WHEEL.

Application led Feb. 1, 1899.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES K. THOMA, kOF WINFIELD, KANSAS.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,189, dated August 15, 1899.

Application tied February 1, 1399. serai Nt.'7o4,1os. or man.)

be so distributed as to secure the best possible results with the least friction.

Another object of the inventionv is to provide a means for dividing the balls into two independent yet coacting series, the balls of each series being free to turn, and yet the balls of one series will beV prevented from traveling laterally,while the balls of the other series will have limited lateral travel.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the severalparts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth,

. and pointed out in the claims.

Reference isto be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the improved fifth-wheel, taken practically on the l line 1 1 of Fig. 2, the section being also through L the bottom of the body of the vehicle to which Y member comprises an outer annular flange 10,`

an inner concentric flange 11, a bottom portion a, connecting the two anges, a central hub 12, and a'spider 12a, connecting the hub with the inner flange 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. -The space between the two flanges 10 and 11 of the bottom member of the fifthwheel is divided into equal sections through the medium of horizontal partitions 13. These partitions are located equidistant apart, and each partition 13 is provided with a pocket 14, in which a ball 15 is mounted to turn. The pockets 14 are circular, and the balls 15, contained in said pockets, are loosely tted therein. Thus it will be observed that the partitions 13 divide the space between the inner and outer flanges 10 and 11 into a series of runways or races C, and in each runway or race a track 16 is constructed upon or formed integral with the bottom ct of the said space, and the said tracks 16 are provided with upwardly and inwardly inclined sides, providing a space 17 between the sides of the said tracks 16 and the aforesaid flanges 10 and 1l, and openings 18 are made in the bottom a, connecting the flanges 10 and 11, which openings are located between the sides of the track and the inner faces of the flanges, as shown par ticularly in Fig. 1. These openings 18 are adapted as outlets for water or other extrane Vous matter that may lodge in the space between the concentric flanges 10 and 11, so as not to interfere with the movement of balls 15a, that are adapted to travel on the said tracks 16, one ball being usually provided for -each track in each of the runways or races C; but more than one ball may be used in a race when the gear is heavy. The pockets 14 are provided with apertures 19 similar to the apertures 18 and designed for the same purpose. Y

It willbe observed that the balls 15u may not only turn, but they may also travel in a lateral direction on the tracks 16, whereas the balls 15 are prevented from moving lat erally, but are free to turn in their pockets 14. The top member .B of the fifth-wheel is adapted for attachment to the bolster of the vehicle, and said top member consists of an upper plate b, having a pendent annular flange 20, and the plate b is of such dimensions that the ange 20 may extend down at the outside of the outer flange 10 of the bottom member A of the fifth-wheel, thus capping the said bottom member, and an annular groove 21 is made in the under face of the body portion b of the top member B,the said annular groove being adapted to receive the upperrportions of the various balls carried by the'bottom member 0f said fifth-wheel. Aking-bolt 22 is passed through the bolster, the central portion of the top memberof the tifthwheel, and through the hub l2, likewise through the axle and the gear-bed, which is usually carried bythe axle. The members IOO of the fifth-wheel maybe secured to the bolster and gear-bed in any approved manner; but preferably the screws or other attaching medium used in connection with the bottom member A of the fifth wheel are passed through the bottom of t-he pockets 14.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the invention applied to a three-quarters fifth-wheel E, in which the spider E comprises but three members, whereas in the full-circle wheel the spi! der comprises four members and in the fullcircle wheel four pocketed balls are employed, whereas in the three-quarters-circle wheel but three pocketed balls are used, as shown in dotted lines. Otherwise the construction of the various parts of the fifth-wheel is identical with that in the full-circle wheel.

The balls in the pockets serve to keep the wheel level, as they prevent the balls in the long races or runways C having detrimental iniuence upon the wheel should the balls in the said races or runways become broken or jammed, since at all times in a full-circle wheel four firm bearings at equal distances apart will be provided for the wheel. In the improved wheel it will be observed that no matter which way the wagon is turned the balls in the races or runways will follow in the same direction and are likewise in the same position relative to one another, providing a uniform bearing for all parts of the wheel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a ifth-wheel,two sections,one adapted to turn upon the other, one section being provided with ball-bearings arranged in two independent yet coactin g series,the balls of each series being free to turn, but the balls of one series being prevented from traveling laterally while the balls of the other series have limited travel in a lateral direction, as described.

2. In a fifth-wheel, a bottom and a capping section, one section being adapted to revolve around the other section, thc bottom section being provided with concentric flanges, partitions arranged transversely of the space between the ilanges, each partition being provided with a pocket, whereby a series of runways is formed between the partitions, balls located in each of the said pockets, a ball located in each runway, whereby the balls in the pockets are free to turn but are held against lateral movement, while the balls in the runways are also free to turn and have limited lateral travel, the upper surfaces of the balls being arranged for engagement with the under surface of the member of said fifthwheel opposing the member in which the balls are located, for the purpose described.

3. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination, with a bottom member provided with con centric flanges,partitions extending transversely of the space between the said flanges, each partition being provided with a circular pocket whereby a series of runways or races is formed between the partitions, tracks located at the bottom portion of the runways or races, the runways or races and the pockets being provided with apertures extending4 through the bottom portion of said bottom member and the said pockets, a ball held to revolve in each pocket, and a ball located upon the track in each runway or race, the balls in the runways or races being adapted to turn and being capable oi' lateral travel on the said tracks, of a capping member, embracing the bottom member of the fifth-wheel, the balls in the bottom member engaging with the under face of the capping member, and

JAMES K. TIioMA.

Witnesses:

II. A. TONKINsoN, DoN M. Nunn. 

